While few recall the 2004 feature film I Heart Huckabees, many Americans know of Mike Huckabee, the 44th governor of Arkansas, two-time Republican U.S. presidential hopeful, and host of both a TV talk show and daily radio program.
Now, in the heart of Ozarks, Huckabee will become known as a media mogul of sorts.
He’s buying out his partners in five stations and two FM translators serving the Branson, Mo. and Harrison, Ark., listening areas.
As RBR+TVBR reported in May 2018, paperwork offering financial details of a deal some eight months in the making were finally filed with the FCC.
Earls Family Broadcasting‘s Class C2 AC KOMC-FM 100.1 in Kimberling City, Mo; Class C1 Country KHBZ-FM 102.9 in Harrison, Ark.; Country Gold Class C2 KRZK-FM 106.3 in Branson, Mo.; Full Service Class D KHOZ-AM 900 and FM translator partner K235CE at 94.9 MHz in Harrison, Ark.; and Class D Classic Hits KCAX-AM 1220 and FM translator partner K251BZ at 98.1 MHz in Branson, had been sold.
The buyer? Ozark Mountain Media Group, a subsidiary of New Directions Broadcast Group. The operation is 51% owned by Paul Coates, who was the corporate director of sales for Earls Family Broadcasting from 2004-2010.
The 49% owner is Huckabee, the politician who began his career as a pastor and has been a media commentator and host for nearly 10 years. This includes stints on FOX News, and a now-concluded show on Cumulus Media Networks designed to compete directly against Rush Limbaugh.
Ozark Mountain paid $6.5 million for the radio stations, with no deposit required.
Now, Oates is exiting the partnership as part of “an organizational change” today that comes with Huckabee obtaining the 51% interest in the station that Oakes held. This sees Steve Willoughby take on the role of GM for Ozark Mountain Media. He has more than 30 years of experience in media sales, management and programming in the region.
Huckabee, who, like former President Bill Clinton is from Hope, Ark., says, “I have had a long-time affection for radio broadcasting and the Ozarks region, so this acquisition and deeper engagement is a good fit for me. I’m proud to be associated with the people and businesses in this area and look forward to contributing to the region’s success.”
Willoughby adds, “We will give audiences the content they want while providing advertisers with an efficient and effective way to share their story and reach potential customers. Our core team is solid. We will honor our relationships in the community and build on a long history, while evolving for the new era of broadcast and digital communications.”
— Adam R Jacobson reported on this story from Santa Barbara, Calif.
